UMSON Launches New Doctor of Nursing Practice Specialty in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Names Jackson-Parkin Specialty Director

Baltimore, Md. - The University of Maryland School of Nursing (UMSON) will launch a new Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) specialty in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist (AGCNS) next summer, and Maranda Jackson-Parkin, PhD '13, MS '06, Cert '06, RN, CRNP-BC, ACNP, CCNS, CCRN-K, CNE, assistant professor, will serve as the specialty director.

The specialty prepares registered nurses to provide evidenced-based care to acutely and critically ill patients and their families in the critical care, trauma, and emergency department settings and across the continuum of acute care services.

Previously, the DNP program offered a combined Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner/AGCNS specialty, but recent increases in required clinical education, specifically the expectation of 750 direct patient care hours, would have significantly lengthened the combined specialty, adding time and intensity for students.

In addition, the roles require distinct preparation to meet evolving national standards for advanced practice nursing, said Shannon Idzik, DNP '10, MS '03, CRNP, ANP-BC, FAANP, FAAN, professor and associate dean for the DNP program.

To maintain program quality, ensure alignment with role-specific competencies, and support timely degree completion, the advanced practice pathways will be offered as separate DNP specialties. This structure allows each program to provide focused, in-depth clinical and systems-level training while preparing graduates to excel in their chosen advanced practice role.

“As we enter this exciting new era with the separation of the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist specialties, we are thrilled to have Dr. Jackson-Parkin leading the CNS specialty,” Idzik said. “She brings a wealth of clinical, academic, and leadership expertise to this role along with a deep commitment to advancing nursing practice and preparing future clinical nurse leaders. We look forward to her expanding opportunities for our students and the communities they serve.”

As director of the AGCNS specialty, Jackson-Parkin will guide curriculum advances and recruitment, educating and supporting students to lead change across health care organizations.

Ameera Chakravarthy, PhD '22, BSN '02, RN, ACNP-BC, FNP-BC, will continue to serve as the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty director.

Jackson-Parkin joined UMSON in 2013 and has prepared hundreds of advanced practice nurses for diverse acute and critical care settings.

Her clinical experience spans critical care units, specialty consult services, and a variety of acute care environments. A certified acute care nurse practitioner and clinical nurse specialist, she has practiced in both advanced practice roles across a range of critical and acute care specialties, a background that reflects the breadth and versatility of the CNS role. She is also a certified nurse educator and a certified critical care registered nurse.

Jackson-Parkin earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing, a Certificate in Teaching in Nursing and Health Professions, and a Master of Science in Advanced Practice Nursing from UMSON, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the Samaritan College of Nursing at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

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The University of Maryland School of Nursing, founded in 1889, is one of the oldest and largest nursing schools in the nation and is ranked among the top nursing schools nationwide. Enrolling nearly 2,100 students in its baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral programs, the School develops leaders who shape the profession of nursing and impact the health care environment.